As the largest city in Ontario, Sudbury developed from the construction of regional transportation facilities, and the discovery of mineral resources represented by nickel was the foremost starting point for the city to take off. With the development of over a century, the city downtown has experienced a course from prosperity to decline, then to the pursuit of revival. Nowadays the city downtown is facing several problems: urban connection separated by railway, monotonous function of commerce, inefficient land use such as parking occupied urban center, and poor urban landscape with no trees and with lots of backstreets. The existing problems of urban space are phenomenal, so it is necessary to study the entitative thing to break through, which leading to the research on the needs of industry promotion, crowd attraction and integration. With the question of how to revive city center, based on the characteristics of industrial foundation and rich regional landscape resources of grand Sudbury, we propose the planning theme of NICKEL VALLY to imagine the 2050 vision.
1 - It means the industry centralized on Nickel material. referring to the international Silicon Valley.
2 - Secondly, it refers to the spatial image of valley, which corresponds to the design with green corridors that connect people.
3 - Finally, c'est nickel in French argot means It's perfect, giving the multi-cultural population a good future vision.
The aim is to revitalize the center and create an N+ (infinite possibilities) NICKEL VALLEY by using industry promotion as an entry point, creating attractive public spaces, and empowering community.
Strategy 1: N+INDUSTRY: re-attracting talents through a growing center.
The Sudbury region is rich in resources, including forestry, agriculture, industry and water resources. They have not only brought about the industrial prosperity, but more importantly, contribute to build the entire industrial chains based on nickel, which can stretch out to the to the primary industry and tertiary industry. The comprehensive industrial chain is centered on material research and development particularly based on nickel/forestry and other ore, which help leading the related industrial design and architectural design into downtown. Meanwhile, the creativity and entrepreneurship of colleges and universities are cultivated to enable the integrated development of enterprises, universities and research institutes. The production-oriented service industry is also allocated to ensure the enterprise operation at different stages. In order to ensure the sustainability of industrial innovation, talent aggregation and downtown vitality, the quality of public space is essential. The existing open space, track and water system are utilized to build a continuous public space and transportation system with high mobility.
Overall, Downtown will be a vision of industrial prosperity, convenience and dynamism. Corresponding to the spatial design, we combine and aim to connect the separated area. On the east side where the city has been built, the traditional commercial area redensified by residence and the culture, art and sport area are planned based on the existing function. On the south of the center, we use the railway space to create two cluster for mining technologies industry and Healthcare research area respectively, developed with mixed residence. On the north of the city, based on the proximity of several schools, an industry-university-research cooperation and industrial services area is planned. Finally, next to the center green belt, an innovation science and technology exhibition area is set.
Strategy 2: N+ AMENITY: regenerating the center through mixed-use & high mobility.
Urban amenities will be improved, especially for transportation, commercial entertainment, health care, tourism services (hotelinformation center) and other daily leisure. The aim is to regenerating the center through mixed-use function layout and high mobility system.
The layout of the facility is designed to improve utilization efficiency, taking use of the current freight track to reroute life path, connecting communities and companies, and giving priority to renovating existing idle buildings, while encouraging a diverse mix of functions to promote re-greening & regenerate urban life by transportation oriented development.
The former freight railway will be transformed into a dual-use rail system for urban sightseeing and daily commuting, along with green way for pedestrians and bicycle. Some of the building along the route will be preserved and transformed into cultural and commercial use, giving consideration to community services. At the same time, the new apartments design will emphasize the nixed use of functions, the ground floor of the building is open to the city, with retail, bar, coffee shop, bookstore, supermarket and other daily services. Creative offices are introduced in the middle floor, which is considered to be provided for entrepreneurs at a lower rent. The upper floor is a mixed-residence for the elderly, generally families and young people. Community services are provided within the building to enable people to integrated
Strategy 3: N+COMMUNITY: rebuilding the city by all.
In order to involve all citizens in constructing the green corridor through integrating food cultivation into green space (urban agriculture) and setting space for citizens to construct their own space (nickel box), thus connecting the different income level population. Basically, a green network is re-connected through using the vacant space and the old railway (after removing the railway to outside the center). The regional-level, city-level, community-level corridor and node is created with their own identified function. We also emphasize re-greening the existing built area.
In regards of urban agriculture, we apply the local food system from food production, distribution to consumption and waste use, and reflect it in the space: the city-farm, community garden and roof garden for production; farmers market and food hub for regional farmers and urban farmers to sell food and increase access to food; the community kitchen; and composting place. Not only we apply it in the west part that will be new built, but also, we re-use the negative space (backstreets for example) to transfer the possible space into farming area.
Concerning the nickel box, the City provides multiple cubic box areas (5*5*5m) in green spaces for community members to co-design, create and construct their public space: the space created by all and used by all.
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